The colour orange.

Today is historical illiteracy day in Ireland.In the North East of this country an entire sub culture dedicated to a false interpretation of events in the late 17^th century parade their allergy to learning.

Firstly the victory they celebrate wasn’t a victory at all. It was an inconclusive draw.

The real victory of the Willamite forces came a year later at Aughrim in County Galway.

The Willamite war in Ireland was part of a wider conflict to stop France becoming the dominant power in Europe. Opposing the French were the states that became part of the League of Augsburg in July 1686. They all feared the might of the French army.

Pope Innocent XI who had wanted the French under Louis IV to mount a crusade against the Turks secretly supported and funded the League. Therefore the Papacy was main financier of the Augsburg military effort.

William of Orange was selected to head up the army on the basis of his abilities as a General.

So let me get this straight.

In 1690 two kings fought a battle in Ireland.

One was British and the other one was Dutch.

The battle ended in a draw.

So today people in Ireland who want to remain British will carry banners of the Dutch King and wear orange sashes because it is the national colour of Holland to celebrate the victory he never won at the Boyne.

Today is historical illiteracy day in Ireland.